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Women's Wellness Startup COYA Wins SLU-Madrid's Shark Tank

by Isaiah Voss

A student startup focused on women's wellness took first place at Saint Louis University-Madrid's Global Business Club (GBC) Shark Tank competition on Feb. 25, earning a spot in the next stage of the Hult Prize competition.

The winning team, COYA, led by Camila Gallardo and Emilie Sarmiento, pitched a venture centered on wellness products tailored to different phases of the menstrual cycle. Judges selected the team for its clear business model and strong social impact.

The event, held in Viña Aula 1, featured student teams presenting startup ideas aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each group delivered a four-minute pitch followed by questions from faculty judges Gonzalo Moreno, Ph.D., Paolo Saona, Ph.D. and David Howden, Ph.D.

COYA will represent SLU-Madrid at the national Hult Prize competition on April 18 at Esade Business School in Barcelona, where teams will compete for a chance to advance toward the program's $1 million global prize.

The competition was organized by the Global Business Club as part of a broader effort to expand entrepreneurship opportunities on campus.

Two women in business attire speak to the audience with a presentation slide that shows the company logo. The wall of the auditorium has a sign that reads "Higher purpose. Greater good" in white.

Camila Gallardo and Emilie Sarmiento present COYA in Viña Aula 1. Submitted photo.

"We hope that this becomes the annual business event for SLU-Madrid students," said GBC President De'Von France. "Our whole motto is everyone can be a businessperson. It's not just for business students."

France said the team organized the event on an accelerated timeline.

"We joined in January. We developed our teams and workshops in four weeks before the competition," he said. "The intended timeline is from September to February, so we did in four weeks what's supposed to be done in six months."

The event was coordinated by GBC's leadership team, including Interim Vice President and Vice President of Event Coordination Clara Foster, who led planning efforts, and Vice President of Communications and Marketing Angelina Nunez, who handled promotion and event coverage.

Other leaders include Treasurer Gianna Sparks, Sophomore Representative Emilio Robles, and Freshman Representative Zacko Williams.

 The GBC hopes to invite all public speaking students for the next edition.